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‘Explosive’ wildfire hits Alaska’s sled-dog community

Two serious wildfires in Alaska are threatening hundreds of residences and have forced numerous evacuations. Volunteers mobilized to save sled-dogs.

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A wildfire in Alaska is covering 10 square miles. Residents are under a voluntary evacuation order. Many sled dogs also had to be evacuated.

By Mark Thiessen And Rachel D’OroThe Associated Press

Tues., June 16, 2015

HOUSTON, ALASKA—Fire crews are battling two serious wildfires in Alaska that are threatening hundreds of residences and have forced numerous evacuations.

The most recent fire erupted Monday and burned six structures and prompted hundreds of residents to flee homes on the Kenai Peninsula, roughly 250 km south of major wildfire that started a day earlier near Willow in the heart of the state’s sled-dog community.

The Willow-area blaze prompted volunteers to join in making sure that both people and their sled dogs as well as other animals were safely evacuated.

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The fire is raging near a far-flung community of about 2,000 people living along a 20-mile swath along the Parks Highway, a major road connecting Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Smoke rises from the Bogus Creek Fire, one of two fires burning in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Alaska. (Matt Snyder / AP)

Steve Charles believed his home was far enough from the fire, but the wind-whipped fire grew quickly on Sunday, forcing him to find shelter for both him and his 13 dogs. “I didn’t realize I would have to be evacuating myself,” he said at the American Red Cross evacuation centre at Houston, Alaska, where he is with his sled dogs. (Mark Thiessen / AP)

A State Division of Forestry air tanker works the Sockeye fire north of Kashwitna Lake on June 14, 2015, near Willow, Alaska. The wildfire north of Anchorage shut down a key highway and forced the evacuation of 1,700 structures after it mushroomed in size. (Bill Roth / AP)

The Willow area fire started about 1 p.m. Sunday and quickly grew. Residents were under a voluntary evacuation order, and the highway was intermittently closed because of the heavy smoke that enveloped the area.

The fire on the Kenai Peninsula was first reported in the early afternoon Monday as a 1-acre (under half-hectare) grass fire near the community of Sterling, but by early evening it had expanded to 640 acres (258 hectares) was threatening some 200 homes.

Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources said in a news release that the “explosive wildland fire on the Kenai Peninsula forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes,” but did not provide a more precise figure.

It said that it’s still unclear if the six burned structures are homes or some other buildings.

There have been no reports of any serious injuries in connection with either fire.

Willow is home to the official start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, except this year when little snow forced the start farther north. The same lack of snow is part of what is fueling the fire, along with low rainfall this spring and hot, dry, windy conditions now.

Up to 20 mushers, both recreational and professionals, live in the area, and the community mobilized to help get the dogs out of the fire’s path.

Steve Charles believed his home was far enough from the fire, but the wind-whipped fire grew quickly on Sunday, forcing him to find shelter for both him and his 13 dogs. “I didn’t realize I would have to be evacuating myself,” he said at the American Red Cross evacuation centre at Houston, Alaska, where he is with his sled dogs. (Mark Thiessen)

“The word went out that those dogs needed rescuing, aside from the people, but the dogs can’t rescue themselves,” said Steve Charles, a member of the Willow Dog Mushers Association. He’s a recreational musher and can get on the trail right outside his back door.

The club had also planned for a day like this but never had to execute until Sunday. Vern Halter, an Iditarod veteran and now borough assemblyman, said about 500 dogs were moved in about two hours.

About 200 of those dogs ended up with four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser at his kennels in Big Lake about 30 kilometres from the fire. He also was taking in displaced residents, including veteran Iditarod musher DeeDee Jonrowe, who lost her home.

“Everybody’s relieved that their dogs are safe and here, but the people that have lost their homes, they are dejected,” Buser said Monday afternoon in a phone interview. “And people that their homes got spared are elated.”

Officials said Monday afternoon that the fire was zero per cent contained, with the weather expected to continue to be warm and dry. One firefighter has been treated for heat exhaustion.

Robin Edgell only had time to grab one thing when she fled her home in Willow: “Pictures, the only things that can’t be replaced,” she said outside a motorhome parked at the Red Cross evacuation centre.

Edgell said the fire moved quickly on Sunday, and she described as just “horrific.”

A State Division of Forestry air tanker works the Sockeye fire north of Kashwitna Lake on June 14, 2015, near Willow, Alaska. The wildfire north of Anchorage shut down a key highway and forced the evacuation of 1,700 structures after it mushroomed in size. (Bill Roth)

“You just see huge, billowing clouds of smoke in the air,” she said. “And the wind’s blowing, and you feel the direction it’s blowing. It’s like it’s blowing the clouds right at us, the fire’s coming.”

Tankers have unloaded retardant, and a helicopter dropped loads of water as more aircraft planned to join the fight. Nearly 200 personnel were battling the blaze and elite hot shot crews were expected to arrive on Monday.

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